Women’s football returns to Wakefield

Two decades after the Wakefield Football Club’s women’s team folded, a new side has been launched for this season’s competition.

“There were so many mums asking last year, ‘where is the women’s team?’ So we started putting things in motion, spread the word and got them along to train,” says Wakefield FC president Shannon Marr, who is also coaching the new side.

Waimea College schoolmates Ursula Oakes, 16, and Phoebe Chillingworth, 15, saw a Facebook post and thought they would give it a go.

The pair reckon football is probably safer than their other passion, horse riding, but they are still working out what positions they want to play.

“It is exciting that enough numbers showed up so we could form a team. It is good to have a wide range of skills and ages,” declares Phoebe.

Team player-manager Kirsty Harte says New Zealand Football wanted more women and girls playing the game after numbers had fallen away after the hype of the world cup.

“A lot of us have been mums on the sideline watching our own children or have never played before. We are all gelling and having fun,” enthuses 45-year-old Kirsty, who is the oldest in the team.

“I am working on my fitness,” she quips. The side has 13 or 14 players so far, and the coach says another three or four would be handy.

“Probably 95 per cent of them hadn’t even kicked a ball before we began training in February.

“The improvement in the past four or five weeks has been quite impressive. Everyone is here to learn and have fun,” comments Shannon.

The former centre back is also coaching Wakefield’s second 11 and helping with his son’s ninth grade team after a serious motorcycle accident in 2022 put his playing career on hold.

Ask his new team what they think of his coaching, and he grins and admits he amassed plenty of yellow cards as a player.

Shannon’s goal is to grow his new team, score some goals and hopefully be competitive by the end of the season.

“I reckon we have a chance of winning a couple of games,” insists Kirsty, who is encouraging anyone to come along to training on a Wednesday night at the Wakefield Domain and have a go, no matter what their age or skill level.

Shannon and Kirsty’s efforts have been praised by Sheree Lapslie of Mainland Football Nelson Bays.

“We now have nine women’s teams. The next aim is to reach 10 so we can get around having a bye,” says Sheree.

Wakefield FC Ladies are away to the Tahuna Breakers for their opening match on 12 April.

Richmond is fielding two teams in the competition. Golden Bay, Motueka, Māpua, Nelson Suburbs and FC Nelson are also represented.